License tag illuminating and signaling device



May 13, 1941. SCHMITT 2,241,741

LICENSE TAG ILLUMINATING AND SIGNALING DEVICE Filed Nov. 29, 1939 grwcm tom firs iffy;

Patented May 13,1941

UNITED STAT-Es; OFFICE; v d I I incense t I I SIGNALING nnvica Herman Schm itt, Sheboy fl Wis. Application November 29,1939, Serial No. 306,726

IClaim. (cram-gal a The invention relates to license tag illfiminatto provide a device of 'this character comprising a casing supported above and forwardly of the Y license plate and provided with means whereby light rays will be projected rearwardly as a sigwardly on the license plate for illuminating the same and means whereby light rays will be proing and signaling devices, and has for its objectn jected transversely from either end of the casing as side signals to vehicles approaching at an angle. I

'A further object is to form the casing from a cylindrical chambered body having illuminating means therein and the ends of the body with removable cup shaped members having light openings therein. I

A further object is to provide a lamp supporting bracket within the chamber of the cylindrical body and supporting spaced lamps in circuit with a contact on the inner side of the bracket and a separable connector cooperating with said conserved by vehicles but will be within the range of vision of vehicles approaching from the rear.

The 'under side of the casing 1 is provided with an annular member 9 having 'a' chamber In therein. The annular member I has its axis extending downwardly and inwardly so that'light rays fromone of the lamps II will be directed onto theiace of the license plate for illuminating the same. Disposed within the annular member 9" ma lens l2, preferably white and positioned whereby it will notice seen by, other vehicles approachingon courses at an angle from either side. I

The ends of the cylindrical body member I are closed by means of semispherical members ll having axially alined flanged openings II, and

disposed within the flanged openings and spaced inwardlytherefrom are lenses II; preferably red,

and adapted to project, ht raystransversely to each side of the vehicle ,as a danger signal to appreaching vehicles from either side. Therefore,

it will be seen that a rear signal is given from a single source of light, and in addition the license plate is illuminated and transverse danger signals are at the same time given.

The lamps II are of conventional constructionand'supported on a U-shaped bracket II carried by the inner periphery of the casing I in the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawing: Figure l is a perspective view of the device,

showing thesame supported above a; conventional form of license plate.

Figure 2 is a vertical transverse through the illuminating and signaling device.

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view through i the illuminating and signaling-device.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral l desig nates a conventional form of license plate, at-

tached by means of screws 2 to a transverse brace bar I. a The brace bar 3 is provided-with at the rear sidethereof. The bracket II, on the inner side of the transverse portion thereof, is provided with a contact member I] in circuit with .the lamps it through the wires II. The systemis, preferably a one wire system. The arcuate plate I is provided with an outwardly extending chambered member I! for the reception sectional view elongated opening I through which-light rays 3 pass and disposed within said opening is a lens I, preferably red and spacedinwardly. from-the outer end of the opening I so it will not be abof a conventional form of connecting plug 10,

which acts against the expansive action of the spring 21. Plug 20 is provided with an extension member 22 of conductor material which extends through the apertures 23 and into engagement,

with the contact member l'l.

' The license plate and illuminating device is 7 supported by a conventional form of bracket 24, which mayfbetattached to the automobile in any suitable. manner.

. Fromfthe 'above'it will be seen that a license n is'tobe understood that the tour way light box mayhave lens ofany color desired and that the particular colors iiniicated may be varied.

The side lensesilhowever are preferably red to approaching at right angles,

act as danger signals to cars approaching from either side, for instance at intersecting roads and the lens 9 is preferably red, however "if the light box is used on the front end of the machine this color may be varied. The bottom lens I 2-is pref-' erabiy uncolored to ge'tjt e maximum amount of light rays on the license plate. The device is primarily a safety signaling one. The invention having been set forth what is claimed as new and useful-is:

-A combined signaling lightand license plate illuminating device, said device comprising a cylindrical casing, means for supporting said casing above and spaced outwardly from thezontal jplane, said last named light ray opening beingsurrounded by flanged members whereby the lights can not be seenfrom the rear at a right angle thereto, a flanged-rearwardly extending light ray opening carried by the rear side of the casing, inwardly disposed lens in said flanged members, a supporting bracket for the cylindrical casing, said bracket terminating in an arcuately shaped-plate secured to the casing, said plate conforming to and engaging said casing, a plurality of lamps within the casing in circuit with each other, a U-shaped bracket within the easing and carried by the casing and on which said lamps are mounted, a contact point insulatedly carried by theinner side of the transverse portion of the U-shaped bracket and electrically connected to the central contacts of the lampsand circuit connection means connected to said contact point and passing through said arcuate portion and casing.

HERMAN scHMI'I'r. 

